WEBVTT N GREENVILLE WITHTHE LATEST. TIM: MICHAEL AND CAROL, AS WEFIRST REPORTED A COUPLE OF WEEKSAGO, THE CASE AGAINST SHERIFFLEWIS HAS BEEN MOVED TO FEDERALCOURT.WHICH ATTORNEY JOHN RECKENBEILSAYS WILL PLAY TO THE SHERIFF'SADVANTAGE.SHERIFF WILL LEWIS, ACCUSED IN AFEDERAL CIVIL RIGHTS LAWSUIT, OFSEXUALLY ASSAULTING A FORMEREMPLOYEE AND FORCING HER TO QUITHER JOB.IT'S A CHARGE LEWIS STRONGLYDENIES, AND ONE THAT SPARTANBURGATTORNEY JOHN RECKENBEIL SAYSWILL BE HARD TO PROVE.>> THAT'S WHAT THEY'VE GOT TODEMONSTRATE, THAT IT WAS SOHOSTILE, THAT IT WAS SOUNREASONABLE FOR AN INDIVIDUALIN HER SHOES, THAT SHE COULD NOTTAKE IT ANYMORE, THAT SHE HAD TOLEAVE.AND THAT HER JOB WAS CONTINGENTUPON HER PARTICIPATING IN ANUNWELCOME RELATIONSHIP.THAT'S A LOT TO PROVE.TIM: BUT THAT'S IF ATTORNEYS FORSAVANAH NABORS GET THE CHANCE TOEVEN ARGUE THEIR CASE.RECKENBEIL SAYS THE FEDERALCOURT SYSTEM IS SO BACKLOGGED,IT COULD TAKE YEARS FOR THE CASETO GO TO TRIAL.>> 2020 AND BEYOND?>> YES, THAT'S HOW BACKLOGGED WEARE.I DON'T THINK PEOPLE RECOGNIZETHAT WE ARE SHORT LITERALLYALMOST ONE THIRD OF OUR FEDERALJUDGES ARE VACANT IN THISCOUNTRY RIGHT NOW.TIM: HE SAYS IT'S MORE LIKELYTHE CASE WILL BE SETTLED OUT OFCOURT, WITH THE TERMS OF ANYSETTLEMENT FOREVER HIDDEN FROMTHE PUBLIC, IN A CASE LIKELY TODRAG ON FOR YEARIF THE CASE GOES TO TRIAL,RECKENBE BELIEVES IT WILL MOSTLIKELY HAPPEN HERE.HE BELIEVES THE ATTORNEY WILLPUSH FOR A CHANGE OF VENUE,

Greenville County administrator responds to lawsuit involving sheriff

County Administrator Joseph Kernell responded to the lawsuit

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Updated: 7:23 PM EST Nov 20, 2017

GREENVILLE COUNTY, S.C. —

Greenville County has responded to a sexual harassment lawsuit involving Sheriff Will Lewis.

Former employee Savanah Nabors claims the sheriff sexually assaulted her on a work trip to Charlotte.

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Nabors is suing Lewis, Greenville County Sheriff’s Office, Greenville County, others not formally named and County Administrator Joseph Kernell.

Kernell and two other county administrators were on the trip to Charlotte.

In Kernell’s attorney response today he said the trip was at the request of the Sheriff.

Kernell also said he was not aware of Lewis’ alleged history of sexually inappropriate behavior with female coworkers.

Kernell stated he has no knowledge of sexual harassment or inappropriate behavior between Lewis and Nabors.

He also stated several times at no point during the trip did Nabors make any complaints about sexual harassment, rape or any other issues.

In court documents last week Lewis admitted he did have consensual sex with Nabors.